Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/194

 176 THE CLASSICAL HERITAGE [chap. sleeping, and their conduct when away from the monastery; also the reception of strangers, and the relations of the monks toward outsiders. Monks might not own property ; ^ but this restriction did not apply to the monastery. Through these practical regulations run deep chords of Christian piety ; all acts are to be done in the spirit of the principles of the regula, that is, in the spirit of humility and Christian love, and the following of Christ. " Let the Cellararius (steward) of the monas- tery be chosen from the congregation, wise, sober, temperate, not puffed up, nor turbulent nor insolent nor wasteful, but fearing God, — who shall be a father to all the congregation. Let him not afflict the brothers ; if a brother asks what is unreasonable, he should not spurn the request, but, explaining with humility, he may deny what is ill-asked." ^ Such a man shall the Cellararius be; and likewise the por- tarius (doorkeeper), senex sapiens qui sciat accipere responsum et reddere.^ Regarding the treatment of strangers applying at the monastery : " Let all strang- ers be received as Christ, because he himself shall say, ' I was a stranger, and ye took me in.* " * Notwithstanding its directness as a moral code and its detailed regulation of monastic life, the regula of Benedict was such that further aims than it expressed could be introduced among the companies of monks who lived according to its commands. The regula said nothing of the pursuit of learning, or of the missionary and civilizing activity of monks. It did prescribe manual labor ; and also made provision for 1 Chap. 33. 2 Chap. 31. « Chap. 66. •* Chap. 53.